East Cape Road bridge damaged

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

East Cape Road at the Awatere Bridge is closed to all vehicles.

Tairāwhiti Civil Defence said the bridge had major structural damage.

“Contractors are working to divert the river away from the twisted bridge pile because engineers are concerned the river's undermining the pile,” Civil Defence said in an update yesterday.

“Steel brackets are being fabricated to support the bridge deck to the damaged pile. The brackets need to be individually built to fit the angle of the twisted pile.”

That work was expected to take two weeks to finish.

“It's expected to have the bridge open to light vehicles in three weeks and once all the district's bridges have been inspected, a permanent option will be worked out.”

A ford crossing has been used for residents and essential freight trucks only.

“Please be patient. We need to keep any weight off the bridge until these repairs are made.

“If the bridge was to collapse, a permanent fix could take 12 to 18 months.”